Thursday 8 September, 2016

11 After three months we headed out to sea. We sailed in a ship from Alexandria that had stayed at the island during the winter. On the front of the ship the figures of twin gods were carved. Their names were Castor and Pollux. 12 We landed at Syracuse and stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed to Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up. The day after that, we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers. They invited us to spend a week with them. At last we came to Rome. 15 The believers there had heard we were coming. They traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw these people, he thanked God for them and was encouraged by them. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself. But a soldier guarded him.

Paul’s missionary journey continues, from Malta, to what is now known as Sicily, then onto Rome, where finally he had arrived to a destination, that fulfilled what the Lord has spoken of. If we go back to Acts 23:11 “The following night the Lord stood by him (Paul) and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

Through all the hardship that Paul endured to get to Rome, including plots to have him killed, being shipwrecked after a perfect storm that lasted over 2 weeks, then being bitten by a deadly snake, he had arrived.

This makes me ponder the faith that Paul showed through these events, knowing that God had a purpose for him at a very important destination . . . the most powerful city in the world of that time.

I so admire his determination. He never gave up, or considered these harsh events in his journey as anything but stumbling blocks, not stone walls.

I am challenged as I write this, of the journey I am on. 2016 has not been the easiest of years for me, and yet it is part of the journey that God has, and is orchestrating.

Father, may I trust You more, and always be mindful that by remaining in You, the journey is not necessarily easy, but is as You design for me, for Your purpose. Amen

Written by Steve Fell